Fatwa: 589
Category: fatwas about marriage
The ruling regarding inviting those who abandon prayer to the wedding party
The question:
Is it permissible to invite the neighbors if they abandon prayer or they commit major and deadly sins?
The answer:
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.
The Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم says: “Do not take as a companion anyone but a believer and let no one but a God-fearing eat your food”(1). That is to say, he should invite the poor as well as the rich to the banquet.
As for the neighbors who do not perform prayer and who commit major and deadly sins, it is not permissible to invite them, because inviting people who commit major sins implies approving of their sins, and approving of a sin is in itself a sin, except if there is a hope that these people will return to the way of rectitude and guidance, in this case, it is permissible to invite them.
The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.
Algiers, Safar 9th, 1428H.
Corresponding to: February 27th , 2007.
(1) Reported by Abu Dâwûd, chapter of “Good manners”, concerning whom the Muslim is enjoined to keep company (hadith 4832), by At-Tirmidhi, chapter of “Asceticism”, concerning what is reported about keeping a believer’s company (hadith 2395), by Ahmad in Al-Musnad (hadith 11337) and by Al-Hâkim in Al-Mustadrak (hadith 7169), on the authority of Abu Sa`îd Al-Khudri رضي الله عنه. This hadith is judged Hassan (good) by Al-Baghawi in Sharh As-Sunna (6/468) and by Al-Albâni in Sahîh Al-Jâmi` (hadith 7341).